Chapter 24 "Arise—those who refuse to be slaves..."
Looking at the fluttering five-star red flag, Shu Ran felt a surge of warmth in her heart. She turned and walked into the shed.
Most of the students had arrived. In addition to the original students, the three children that Zhang Guifen brought also stood timidly at the back, looking around curiously and reservedly.
"Class, quiet down!" Shu Ran picked up a red willow stick and tapped it on the mud-brick podium.
The children's eyes immediately focused on her.
"Today, Qiming Elementary School welcomes three new students!" Shu Ran smiled and pointed to the three new faces. "Let's give them a round of applause!"
Scattered applause broke out, filled with the children's excitement and curiosity. The three newcomers blushed and huddled together nervously.
“Okay,” Shu Ran walked to the door and pointed to the newly erected flagpole and the red cloth hanging outside. “Everyone, look outside. That piece of wood is called a flagpole. The red cloth hanging on it is the symbol of our motherland, called the national flag.”
"The national flag?" Stone's eyes widened. "The kind that hangs at the main gate of the battalion headquarters?"
“Yes!” Shu Ran nodded firmly. “The national flag represents our country. Every Chinese person should respect and cherish it.”
Shu Ran said solemnly, "Every first morning of the week, when the sun rises, we hold a ceremony called the flag-raising ceremony. Raising the national flag to the top of the flagpole signifies the start of a new week and expresses our love and respect for our motherland!"
The children seemed to understand, but not quite. They puffed out their little chests and stared at the red cloth outside with bright eyes.
"During the flag-raising ceremony, we will also sing a song called the national anthem." Shu Ran walked back to the podium, picked up a piece of lime, and forcefully wrote three large characters on the blackboard: "National Anthem."
"Repeat after me, the national anthem."
"National Anthem!" The children's innocent voices rang out in the shed.
"The name of this song is 'The March of the Volunteers'." Shu Ran's voice carried a powerful emotion. "It tells us how our country came to be, that it was bought with the blood and lives of countless heroes! So, when singing the national anthem, we must stand up straight, not move around, and sing it loudly to express our strength and respect for the heroes!"
Her gaze swept over the little faces, and then, in a clear and emotional voice, she began to sing, word by word:
"Arise, ye who refuse to be slaves!"
The children stared wide-eyed, trying to catch the unfamiliar melody and lyrics.
"Let our flesh and blood—build our new Great Wall—"
Shu Ran sang slowly and clearly. She tapped her hand to keep time as she sang.
"The Chinese nation has reached its most dangerous moment."
The shed was quiet, with only Shu Ran's singing echoing through it. Even the most mischievous Hu Zi and Da Mao instinctively straightened up.
Adil lowered his arms at some point, his gaze fixed intently on Shu Ran. Ayiman, in turn, hummed softly in sync with Shu Ran's rhythm.
"Everyone was forced to—let out—a final roar—"
After singing the first verse, Shu Ran stopped. She looked at the children and said, "Come on, follow the teacher and learn it line by line."
She began again: "Arise—yes, who refuse to be slaves—"
The children sang along, their voices timid and hesitant, though their tunes were off-key, but their voices were sincere.
The singing repeated itself over and over, gradually becoming more synchronized from its initial awkwardness and off-key notes.
Shu Ran patiently corrected her pronunciation while clapping along.
Finally, it seems like everyone can barely connect.
Shu Ran put down her pointer. "Now, let's go outside and hold the flag-raising ceremony! Shi Tou, you're the tallest and strongest, you'll be the flag bearer!"
Shi Tou's face flushed with excitement, and he puffed out his chest: "Yes! Teacher Shu!"
"Other students, line up in two rows according to your height and stand in front of the flagpole! Stand straight like saplings! Put your hands down and don't move around!" Shu Ran instructed.
The children poured out of the shed and hurriedly lined up in front of the flagpole.
Adil was pulled to the edge of the first row by the stone and stood up awkwardly. Ayman stood close to her brother, her little face full of curiosity.
Shu Ran stood at the front of the line, facing the flagpole. She straightened her clothes.
The morning sun shone on her face and on the old red canvas flag.
"The flag-raising ceremony shall now begin!" Shu Ran's tone was formal and her voice was strong.
She turned to the stone: "Flag raiser, get ready!"
Stone immediately ran to the flagpole, stood on tiptoe, grabbed the dangling rope, and nervously clenched it in his palm.
Shu Ran took a deep breath, her gaze sweeping over the solemn faces of the children, and sang the first line:
"Arise, ye who refuse to be slaves!"
The children immediately joined in singing, though they were completely off-key and couldn't remember the lyrics, they still tried their best to hum along.
Shu Ran led the singing loudly, trying to bring the tune back on track.
The national anthem echoed near the shed, carrying far and wide.
Several workers carrying hoes, ready to start work, stopped and looked over in surprise.
A shepherd driving his flock of sheep reined in his horse and peered out curiously.
Even Technician Ma, who was reporting to Zhao Weidong right in front of the production office, stopped talking and listened to what was happening.
"The Chinese nation—has reached—its most perilous moment—everyone—is forced—to utter their final roar—"
As the song played, Shi Tou pulled the rope rhythmically. Under the children's watchful eyes, the national flag rose higher and higher along the flagpole.
As the final note of "Forward! Forward! Forward! March!" faded, the national flag reached the top of the flagpole.
Stone's hands were still gripping the rope, his chest heaving with excitement.
Shu Ran stood at the front of the line, looking at the light shining in the children's eyes, raised her right hand and gave a Young Pioneers salute to the national flag.
She wants the children to discover and explore the glorious significance of the Young Pioneers for themselves.
The children all looked up at Shu Ran's action with curious eyes.
"Teacher Shu, what are you doing?" Shi Tou couldn't help but ask.
Shu Ran put down her hand, turned around and faced the children, saying, "Classmates, the action I just did is called a salute, which is a way to express respect."
"Salute?" Tiger scratched his head. "Like Officer Chen? I've seen Officer Chen before at the regimental headquarters. When he saw a high-ranking leader, he'd raise his hand in a flash and put it next to his forehead. He looked so imposing!"
“Yes! Shi Tou observed very carefully!” Shu Ran gave Shi Tou an approving look; this was exactly the entry point she needed.
"The gesture that Officer Chen made is called a military salute, which is how the People's Liberation Army soldiers express their respect." She said, while imitating the military salute.
"Wow!" The children exclaimed in amazement, mimicking Shu Ran's gestures, especially the boys, who thought the pose was particularly cool.
“But,” Shu Ran changed the subject, “we are not People’s Liberation Army uncles. We are students. As students, we also have our own ways of expressing respect.”
Shi Tou was the first to react. He imitated Shu Ran's actions, puffed out his chest, and raised his right hand high as well.
He imitated it the best, his five fingers clenched tightly together, his little face taut. Next came Hu Zi, Da Mao, Chun Cao…
Even the youngest, Tie Dan and Xiao Ya, were bewildered and tried to imitate them, raising their little arms as they went. Ayiman looked at her brother, then at Shu Ran, and timidly raised her hand as well, her little face full of seriousness.
Only Adil, with his lips pursed, looked at the national flag, then at his sister's raised arm beside him, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
“Students, you can put your hands down now,” she said gently.
The children lowered their arms, some shaking their sore arms, while others looked curiously at their palms, as if the action had given them a new meaning.
"The salute we just performed is called the Young Pioneers salute. It's a very honorable gesture." She paused, her gaze sweeping over the eager little faces. "However, not all of you can perform this salute right now."
The children were stunned, especially Shi Tou and Hu Zi, who had been holding up the flag most earnestly, and Ayiman, who had been trying her best to imitate them; confusion appeared on their little faces.
"Why, Teacher Shu?" Shi Tou couldn't help but ask, "Didn't we already learn it?"
“You’ve learned the movements, that’s good.” Shu Ran nodded affirmatively. “However, to be truly qualified to salute the Young Pioneers, you need to become a Young Pioneer first.”
Seeing the children's even more confused looks, she explained, "Young Pioneers are members of the Young Pioneers Organization. It's an advanced organization composed of outstanding children! Only good children, through everyone's nomination and the organization's approval, can wear the bright red scarf and become a glorious Young Pioneer. Only then can they formally perform the Young Pioneer salute!"
The children's eyes lit up, filled with longing.
"Red scarf?" Chuncao asked softly, subconsciously touching her neck.
“Yes, the red scarf worn around the neck symbolizes honor and responsibility.” Shu Ran’s tone was solemn. “It’s not something you can just wear casually. It requires each of us to work hard and strive to gain everyone’s recognition.”
As Shu Ran spoke, she picked up a piece of lime from the podium: "Look, these pieces of lime are scraps that Aunt Zhang Guifen and other uncles and aunts specially picked up from the lime kiln to use as chalk for us! We must cherish them and not litter or scribble on them."
She pointed to a stationery basket made from an old wicker basket, which contained neatly stacked blocks of lime of varying sizes, and next to it was a stack of scrap paper with jagged edges and blurry printed forms.
"These papers were sent by Director Zhao. You can still write on the back! Although they're old, each one is precious!"
Her gaze then fell on the low benches where the children were sitting.
"And these stools were made by the teachers and adults together from scraps of wood that nobody wanted. With them, everyone's arms wouldn't have to be pressed against the hard mud bricks when writing or drawing!"
The children's eyes followed Shu Ran's words. Although they were young, they already understood the meaning of hard-won things in this resource-scarce Gobi Desert.
Shi Tou nodded vigorously: "Yes! Teacher Shu, we will definitely use it sparingly!"
Chuncao carefully touched a piece of scrap paper spread out in front of her, her little face full of seriousness.
Even Adil couldn't help but shift his position on the long, low stool beneath him.
A note from the author:
----------------------
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
